LG poll: Ajimobi rules out automatic ticket for APC members

LG poll: Ajimobi rules out automatic ticket for APC members

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has ruled out automatic ticket for members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in the forthcoming local government election in the state.

Ajimobi, who emphasized the need for cooperation, unity and commitment among members of the party to strengthen the party’s progressive ideals, however, assured all aspirants of a fair-playing ground in the build up to the election.

He added that the party would ensure it fielded popular and loyal members capable of winning elections for the party, irrespective of the time they joined.

Ajimobi, who spoke in Ibadan, the state capital at an enlarged meeting with party members drawn from Ibadan and Ibarapa geo-political zones of the state, appealed to members to shelve individual ambitions capable of threatening the long term interest of the APC.

The governor stressed that the party would hold normal primaries, which he said, would be supervised by leaders of the party to ensure that the exercise was not hijacked by those he said might be harbouring primordial interests.

Restating the preparedness of the state government to conduct the election as soon as the pending court case was settled, he called on members to rally behind candidates that would eventually be fielded by the APC in the larger interest of the party.

Ajimobi said, “We called this meeting so that no member will be discriminated against, no matter the former political parties they belonged to before joining APC, or any group they identify with within the party. The party belongs to us all and we must unite ahead of the election.

“This meeting is important for the cohesion of members and for internal campaign processes to commence and to make opposition parties know that we are together.

“I solicit your cooperation and commitment. If we go into the election as a united entity we are sure of a landslide victory.

“It is for sure that we would have election to the local councils and our party will certainly conduct primary election before the general election to enhance the success of our party.

“Whether we like it or not democracy must be guided and we will do that to ensure victory for our party. The likes of late Chief Bola Ige and Lam Adeshina guided processes that led to all elections during their time and this accounts for the progressives politics we all talk about today.

“We will not shy away from doing same. We will expect loyal party members to tow the stipulations of the leaders.”